Si/Ni and Perfectionism
Let me explain my thoughts on the correlation between Si, Ni, and perfectionism. First, let’s observe what Si and Ni do exactly. Being introverted perceiving functions, their job is to internalize their own subjective interpretations of reality. Si stores personalized impressions of specific details concerning their experiences and surroundings, whereas Ni stores personalized impressions of the basic components and nature of a thing. Both Si and Ni use their observations as a guide to navigate current and future events. Due to their subjective nature, Si and Ni hold preconceived visions of how reality should be. This makes them considerably prone to perfectionism, especially when not balanced out by the other functions.
Si’s perfectionism is detail-focused. The Si-user knows which ideas have worked in the past and utilizes that information to form structurally similar ideas. They want to consider all the possibilities that emerge from their past experiences, searching through those ideas for the most practical and guaranteed method. However, they often make the mistake of reusing old “perfect” ideas that have worked in the past but won’t work as well in the present situation, simply because those ideas are familiar to them. They may obsessively search for an idea that matches up to their personal standards of what makes an idea “good”, throwing away every new idea they come across because none of them live up to the Si-user’s exact definition of “good”. During the implementation process, they tend to get hung up on small details even if those details aren’t imperative to the completion of the task at hand. Si’s perfectionism could best be described as nitpicking and fastidious.
Ni’s perfectionism is goal-focused. The Ni-user has an exact understanding of the vision that they want to bring about. They mentally polish the idea to perfection, considering every angle and aspect of it. However, they often make the mistake of spending too much time ruminating about the idea and they fail to bring it to fruition in reality. If the idea does reach the implementation process, the Ni-user desires - but occasionally struggles - to support their idea with straightforward and realistic information. They have a tendency to obsessively prune all unnecessary details and strip the idea down to its core purpose or meaning, oftentimes causing the idea to lose its connection to reality (and therefore losing the idea’s objective validity) in the process. Ni’s perfectionism could best be described as tunnel vision and excessive minimalism.
In conclusion: Si and Ni’s fixation on their own subjective interpretations often leads them to strive for an extreme idea of perfection. Note: Si or Ni would be what drives the desire for perfection, while Te or Fe would be employed to accomplish that desire. And so, when I say “perfectionism”, I’m talking about the state of mind that is inclined to nitpick and/or obsessively work towards a preconceived goal or vision.
Purely theoretically:
IxxJs are the types most prone to perfectionism, due to dominant Si/Ni.
ExxJs are the second most prone to perfectionism, due to auxiliary Si/Ni.
IxxPs are prone to becoming perfectionistic during Si/Ni loops.
ExxPs are prone to becoming perfectionistic during Si/Ni grips.

















